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JEE Main 90.67 Percentile, BITSAT 222 Marks, IAT Rank 5201 - Should My Daughter Take a Drop?

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8910 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 23, 2024

Nayagam is a certified career counsellor and the founder of EduJob360.
He started his career as an HR professional and has over 10 years of experience in tutoring and mentoring students from Classes 8 to 12, helping them choose the right stream, course and college/university.
He also counsels students on how to prepare for entrance exams for getting admission into reputed universities /colleges for their graduate/postgraduate courses.
He has guided both fresh graduates and experienced professionals on how to write a resume, how to prepare for job interviews and how to negotiate their salary when joining a new job.
Nayagam has published an eBook, Professional Resume Writing Without Googling.
He has a postgraduate degree in human resources from Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi, a postgraduate diploma in labour law from Madras University, a postgraduate diploma in school counselling from Symbiosis, Pune, and a certification in child psychology from Counsel India.
He has also completed his master’s degree in career counselling from ICCC-Mindler and Counsel, India.
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Shivendra Question by Shivendra on Jul 23, 2024Hindi
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Career

Sir, my daughter scored 90.67 percentile in JEE Mains, 222 marks in BITSAT and 5201 rank in IAT exam. She scored 96% in ISC. Her preference order of study is IISER/IIT/BITS/Top NITs. Seeing very less possibility in BITS as of now, is taking drop advisable for her. We belong to general category from U.P.

Ans: Shivendra Sir,

Based on her preference, she should go for a drop, however, she:

(1) Should focus more on Maths / Weak Topics of PCM to increase her Percentile above 98.50.
(2) Fine-tunes her Preparation Strategies
(3) Joins any good Coaching Center, having doubt clearing sessions often
(4) Appears in Topic-wise/Unit-wise/Full Syllabus Tests Often to know the weak areas to improve
(5) Should join any All India Online Test Series of any Coaching Center to know where she stands, where she has to move & how to improve her rank further
(6) Prepares her short-notes and revise them every day/weekly/fortnightly also.
(7) Studies for 45-minutes to 1-hour and take a break of 10-15 minutes to get maximum output every day.

Most Important: Apart from JEE/IAT/BITS, please advise your daughter to appear for 3-4 more entrance exams (State Entrance Exams & Other Private Engineering Entrance Exams) as back-ups to have a more number of options to choose the most suitable one for her.

All the BEST for Your Daughter's Bright Future.

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Asked on - Jul 23, 2024 | Answered on Jul 24, 2024
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Thank you so much for valuable advice.
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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |9758 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jul 16, 2025

Money
Hi I am 46.working in Pvt sector. Able to save 10000rs per month. Don't have much savings or investment. Kindly guide me how to invest this amount to build up a good corpus in coming 10 years
Ans: You are 46 years old and saving Rs.10,000 every month. You want to create a strong investment plan for the next 10 years. You do not have much existing savings. That’s perfectly okay. You are ready to act now. That’s what matters.

Here is a detailed, simple, and practical 360-degree plan.

? Understand your financial starting point
– You are 46 years old, working in private sector.
– You are able to save Rs.10,000 monthly.
– You have minimal past savings or investments.
– You have not mentioned any LIC, ULIP, or insurance-based investments.
– You are now planning for a better financial future in 10 years.

That’s a great and timely decision.

? Clarify your financial goals
– Think about what you want after 10 years.
– Is it retirement? Or a second income source?
– Or your child’s higher education or marriage?
– Having a clear goal helps in better investment planning.
– You can define your goal in simple terms.
– Also, prioritise between must-have goals and good-to-have goals.

This brings better clarity and commitment.

? Monthly savings are your superpower
– Rs.10,000/month may look small. But it’s powerful.
– In 10 years, it can create meaningful wealth.
– Consistency is more important than amount.
– Keep saving without breaks.
– Even in tough months, try not to skip SIPs.

Discipline is your biggest strength now.

? Emergency fund is your safety net
– You should first build a safety buffer.
– Set aside 6 months of your monthly expenses.
– If monthly expense is Rs.30,000, build Rs.1.8 lakh buffer.
– Start with Rs.1 lakh in savings and liquid fund.
– Keep 30% in savings bank. Keep 70% in liquid fund.
– Avoid fixed deposits. Early withdrawal charges reduce returns.
– Liquid funds are better than savings.
– They offer next-day withdrawal and better returns.

Build emergency fund first. Then start investing for long-term goals.

? Avoid index funds for long-term wealth creation
– Index funds are unmanaged. They just copy the market index.
– They don’t protect you during falling markets.
– They drop fast during crashes.
– They don’t adjust to changing market conditions.
– You need smart fund management for long-term growth.
– Actively managed funds are better.
– They are run by professional fund managers.
– These managers buy or sell based on research.
– You benefit from their market insights.
– In India, actively managed funds have outperformed index funds.

Index funds may look cheap. But they cost returns in long run.

? Avoid direct plans if you are not an expert
– Direct plans don’t give you guidance.
– You must decide fund, amount, changes, rebalancing – all on your own.
– No help during volatile markets.
– No suggestions when your goals change.
– Regular plans through a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) give guidance.
– You get support in fund selection and goal planning.
– CFPs help you avoid costly mistakes.
– They also review your portfolio regularly.
– Regular plans help you stay invested calmly.
– Investing is not just numbers. It’s also behaviour.

Handholding matters more than small expense ratio difference.

? Begin with 2–3 strong equity mutual funds
– Start with only 2 or 3 diversified equity funds.
– Choose Flexi Cap and Large & Midcap categories.
– These give good mix of large and mid companies.
– Add a Balanced Advantage Fund for market stability.
– These funds shift between equity and debt automatically.
– You don’t need to monitor markets daily.
– Avoid sector funds, international funds, thematic funds.
– They are risky and not suitable for your stage.
– Don’t try to pick many funds.
– Few good funds are enough.

Over-diversification leads to confusion, not better returns.

? Allocate SIP amounts with simplicity
– You can start SIP of Rs.4,000 in Flexi Cap fund.
– Rs.3,000 in Large & Midcap fund.
– Rs.3,000 in Balanced Advantage fund.
– Total = Rs.10,000/month.

This is simple and powerful allocation.

? Increase SIPs every year
– Try to increase your SIPs by 5–10% yearly.
– If income rises, increase investments first before expenses.
– Even Rs.1,000 extra per year makes a big difference.
– Over 10 years, this boosts final corpus strongly.

Growth in SIP is more important than one-time investments.

? Keep equity investments long term
– Don’t withdraw before 10 years.
– Let the money grow through compounding.
– Equity markets have ups and downs.
– But they reward patient investors over time.
– If you panic in short term, you lose returns.

Time is your best friend in equity.

? Avoid investment-linked insurance policies
– Don’t mix insurance with investment.
– LIC policies, endowment plans, ULIPs give poor returns.
– They promise returns, but deliver less than inflation.
– Keep insurance separate and simple.
– Buy term insurance if not already taken.
– Premium is low, cover is high.

Investment-cum-insurance products dilute both goals.

? Review portfolio every year
– Fund performance must be tracked once a year.
– Change the fund if it underperforms for 2 years.
– Rebalance if one fund grows too big.
– Your Certified Financial Planner will help with review.
– Don’t switch funds often. Review, not react.

Long-term success comes from patience and planning.

? Understand tax impact of mutual funds
– Long Term Capital Gains above Rs.1.25 lakh are taxed at 12.5%.
– Short Term Capital Gains are taxed at 20%.
– For debt funds, both gains are taxed as per your tax slab.
– Plan your withdrawals smartly.
– Take help of your CFP before redeeming.

Tax planning can save you big money.

? Stay away from risky investments
– Don’t invest in stock tips or small companies.
– Don’t try F&O or day trading.
– Stay away from chit funds and ponzi schemes.
– Don’t follow friends or relatives blindly.

Stick to mutual funds with professional guidance.

? Stay consistent with your plan
– Don’t stop SIPs due to short-term events.
– Avoid taking emotional decisions based on news.
– Focus on your goals, not market noise.
– Investing is like growing a tree.
– Give time, water it regularly, don’t uproot.

Consistency builds wealth quietly and surely.

? Create financial discipline in your life
– Avoid unnecessary expenses.
– Track your income and spending.
– Set automatic SIPs.
– Pay off credit card bills fully.
– Don’t take loans for gadgets or travel.
– Start saving before spending.

Good habits support good investments.

? Finally
– You are starting at 46, but that’s not late.
– Many people don’t start at all.
– Rs.10,000/month for 10 years with right discipline is powerful.
– Focus on quality funds.
– Stick to your goals.
– Review annually.
– Stay invested with the help of a Certified Financial Planner.
– Avoid direct plans if you’re not hands-on.
– Avoid index funds.
– Build emergency fund first.
– Increase SIP yearly.
– Don’t stop investing.
– Your 10-year wealth plan is now in motion.

Let your money work quietly. You stay focused and calm.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |8910 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jul 16, 2025

Career
Sir My jee rank was not that good..I have some queries..cna u pls assist me what's the difference between bsc cs and btech cse..and would they lead to same career path and options.. Also if I choose to go with btech then..should I choose srm sonepat or not..I have planned to do msc abroad
Ans: Javin, B.Sc. Computer Science is a three-year, theory-driven program emphasizing algorithms, computation theory and foundational mathematics, suited for research, data analysis or academic roles, whereas B.Tech. in Computer Science & Engineering spans four years with a balanced mix of hardware, software and engineering fundamentals, offering intensive lab work, industry internships, and project-based learning that prepare graduates for system design, software development and emerging technology roles. Both degrees can lead to software engineering, data science, and cybersecurity careers, but B.Tech. holders often access core engineering positions and higher placement rates, while B.Sc. graduates may pivot more readily into research-oriented master’s or academic tracks. Considering SRM University Delhi-NCR Sonepat for B.Tech. CSE, the programme is delivered in a NAAC-accredited institution with over 315 recruiters visiting annually and a 95 percent placement consistency, supported by modern computing labs and structured career services. For planned MSc studies abroad, admissions typically require a four-year engineering or science degree with substantial computer-science content, a competitive GRE score (if required), proof of English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL) and strong academic references; B.Tech. CSE aligns smoothly with these criteria, ensuring eligibility and facilitating conversion to research-focused master’s programmes.

Recommendation:
Opt for B.Tech. CSE at SRM Sonepat to benefit from industry-aligned curriculum, high placement consistency and robust lab exposure, then pursue an MSc abroad leveraging the recognised four-year engineering degree, structured admissions prerequisites and extensive global opportunities in advanced computing and research. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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